Question

the length of a rectangle exceeds its width by 17 inches, and the area is 18 square inches. what are the length and width of the rectangle?

Answer 1

Let's call the sides of the rectangle x and y. You know that one of those sides, let's say y, is 17 inches longer than x. So, y=x+17. You also know that the area of a rectangle is length * width, or x*y. Then \[x*(x+17)=18\] Solve for x, then find y.